Silent Pool Distillery, Surrey
Located on an old farmstead, Silent Pool was turned into a distillery in 2014, with the original and continued thought that this will be craft and special gin. In the hills of Surrey, way out in the country, visiting makes for a pleasant day trip with this as a centerpiece.Still cranking out very detail oriented alcohol, it's a connoisseur's delight as various botanical twists on the base spirit have been created and are available right here.
Also sold in the duty free store at Heathrow Terminal 3, but with a wider variety at their store here than the airport.
The Arrival - Uber
This is the English countryside. There is a bus I think, but figuring that out from the town of Woking is not a feat that Rob was ready for. Therefore, Uber it was down to the hamlet, borough, village? of Albury.The Distillery
Well, it's not super old (2014), but it instantly aspired to produce high end gin instead of just everyday bargain bottle booze. Located on the Silent Pool, a feature known since Roman times where Maidens would bathe out of sight of wandering eyes, but given the water is spring-fed and cold as shit, I find that myth suspect. It's also supposedly haunted from a tragic kidnapping of a lady by King John 1000 years ago.Anyway, located on a few acres of land, a very country looking affair, not much on wasting money for a fancy building, they are all pretty functional from an old farm. The money is in the drink.
Tasting Areas
The tour I took had two distinct sections, the tasting portion, and the buildings around that, then the grounds portion showing the areas the gin is made in earnest.The Grounds
Now the namesake of the distillery and the working grounds, which are quite abuzz with people moving liquids and components to and fro.
Bottles that never had the delight of alcohol in them
The original still, and... still producing
The gins, the enhancers, all ready for being an expert
When it was time to let the tongue recover, this is where you put your glasses to walk around
More tastings by the bar master in the tasting room
The visitors buildings areas
This boiler, mighty and ancient, still heating the original still
The way to the Silent Pool
And the spring-fed (like 1000s of gallons a day fed) pool, is pretty silent. No the water is not taken from here
The overflow goes to a lower pond and then into the River Tillingbourne about a mile away
The main industrial production area for mass quantities"
It's trespassing apparently, but as a drunk guest, it's ok
The shop for all the gin and gin related items
So many different gins to buy
The namesakes, which are probably what you want to buy first
More little things for your drinking shed
Summary
Out in the actual real English countryside, just the trip there is pleasant. Then, you can drink and buy booze. Seems ideal.Now, full disclosure, Rob is NOT a gin drinker, and many of the flavors I just could not tolerate, but that's me, so I'm not the best one to recommend, well anything with juniper berry in it. The gin I brought back was incredibly well received.
This is why attending the tasting is so important, you get to discover for yourself the ones you like.